Pet tending device

ABSTRACT

A pet tending device includes a cabinet having a spring opened door which withdraws and returns a food bowl carrying slide plate with the opening and closing of the door. A conventional alarm clock having a spring wound alarm motor with a winding shaft is mounted in the cabinet and the shaft rotates a member with the release of the alarm which retracts a latch which releasably locks the door in a closed position. The alarm motor is wound with the rotation of the retraction member in an opposite direction to permit the relocking of the door, the alarm motor shaft rotation being restricted to a predetermined amount. A closed water tank is located in the upper part of the cabinet, and its bottom is connected by a feed tube to an external trough which may be raised and lowered, and the upper part of the tank is connected to a vent tube which terminates in a downwardly directed opening at the upper part of the trough. Various accessories are associated with the cabinet.

United States Patent [191 Riba [- Apr. 1, 1975 1 PET TENDING DEVICE [76]Inventor: Morris Riba, 2881 W. 12th St.,

Brooklyn, NY. 11224 22 Filed: Oct. 10, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 404,959

[52] US. Cl. ll9/51.l2, 119/515 [51] Int. Cl A01k 5/02 [58] FieldofSearch ll9/5l.ll,5l.l2,5l.l3, 1l9/5l.l4, 51.15, 51.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.157.682 5/1939 SWCefly119/5115 2,534,444 12/1950 Hedwall et al ll9/5l.l2

Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney, Agent, or FirmWolder & Gross[57] ABSTRACT A pet tending device includes a cabinet having a springopened door which withdraws and returns a food bowl carrying slide platewith the opening and closing of the door. A conventional alarm clockhaving a spring wound alarm motor with a winding shaft is mounted in thecabinet and the shaft rotates a member with the release of the alarmwhich retracts a latch which releasably locks the door in a closedposition. The alarm motor is wound with the rotation of the retractionmember in an opposite direction to permit the relocking of the door, thealaram motor shaft rotation being restricted to a predetermined amount.A closed water tank is located in the upper part of the cabinet, and itsbottom is connected by a feed tube to an external trough which may beraised and lowered, and the upper part of the tank is connected to avent tube which terminates in a downwardly directed opening at the upperpart of the trough. Various accessories are associated with the cabinet.

4 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures FATENTED 3.874.341

SHEET 2 [IF 5 PET TENDING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates generally to improvements in food dispensing devices,and it relates more particularly to an improved automatically timedanimal food dispensing device.

In the proper care and tending of pets, such as cats and dogs and otheranimals, it is generally necessary that drinking water be alwaysavailable. and that food be made available at regular intervals.However, in the case of household confined animal pets, it is ofteninconvenient and frequently impractical to attend to the animals feedingneeds at the proper and optimum times by the reason of the absence ofanybody to attend to these needs at such times. Many devices have beenheretofore employed and proposed for automatically making food availableto an animal at a preset time, but such devices possess numerousdrawbacks and disadvantages. They are generally complex and unreliable,of limited application, of little versatility and adaptability, andotherwise leave much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide an improved dispensing device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved animalfeeding device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improveddevice for storing food for an animal, and for automatically making itaccessible at a preset time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a timed animalfood dispensing device in which an audible signal is produced with thedispensing of the food, and in which other animal services arefurnished, including an improved automatic water filling trough, animalplaythings, mats. shelters and the like.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a deviceof the above nature characterized by its reliability, great versatilityand adaptability and ease and convenience of use.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of animproved, timed animal feeding device, comprising a food receptacle, ahousing enclosing the food receptacle, and including an access membermoveable between a first position providing access to the foodreceptacle and a second position preventing such access, means biasingthe access member to its first position. a latching member moveablebetween a position locking the access member in its second position, anda position releasing the access member. a clock supported by the housingand including a spring wound alarm motor having a winding shaftrotatable in opposite first and second directions, with the loading ofthe motor spring and with the unwinding of the spring to sound the alarmrespectively, and adjustable alarm time setting means. and latch controlmeans responsive to the rotation ofthe motor shaft in the first forpermitting the movement ofthe latch member to its lock position, and tothe rotation of the shaft in the second direction for shifting the latchmember to its release position.

In its preferred form. the improved device includes a cabinet having ahinged door spring biased to an open position and linked to a foodreceptacle carrying slide plate which is withdrawn from and retractedinto the cabinet with the opening and closing of the door. A latchcontrol and winding member is coupled to the alarm motor for rotationabout a vertical axis and the latch member is a slide rod verticallymoveable into and out of engagement with a socket carried by the doorand the latch control member and latch member are associated by a camand follower to raise the latch member with the unwinding of the shaftand to lower the shaft member with the opposite turning of the controlmemberto wind the alarm motor. A closed water tank is housed in thecabinet and its bottom is connected by a flexible tube to the bottom ofan external water trough and a vent pipe connects the upper parts of thetank and trough. Also, associated with the cabinet is an extendable mator shelter and an animal play device.

The improved device is reliable, of great versatility, and adaptability,and easy and convenient to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of apreferred embodiment of the present invention shown in a food accessibleposition:

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof in a closed condition, andpartially in section with the access door being broken away:

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 in FIGS. 1 and 2',

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the latch controlassembly in a condition permitting the depression of the latch member tolock position;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 5'.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the latch member shown in itsraised unlatch position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device of FIGS. Ito 8, but provided with an extendable mat shelter member;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 9, showing the member inextended mat form and by broken line as a shelter;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a lower section thereof;

FIG. 12 is an elevational front view. partially in section, of a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary plan view thereof with the chain and toyelement removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,particularly FIGS; 1 to 8 thereof, which illustrate a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 10 generallydesignates the improved feeding and drinking device which comprises afloor supported cabinet 11, including rectangular horizontal top andbottom walls 12 and 13, opposite rectangular side walls 14 and 16. aread wall 17, and being open at its front to define an access opening18. The bottom wall 13 is provided with depending rubber foot piecesll5. A rectangular door 19 is connected by hinges 20 to the front edgeof wall 16 for swinging between a closed position engaging shoulders inthe wall edges delineating access opening 18 and a fully openedforwardly extending position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

A resiliently, forwardly biased door opening vertical plate 21, havingan opening 22, is disposed proximate the inside face of door 19 and ismounted by a pair of vertically spaced hinges 23, mounted in blocks 24to the inside face of the front vertical border of side wall 16 to beswingable about a vertical axis, inwardly, rearwardly offset from thatof hinges 20. A pair of hair pin springs engage the pins of hinges 23and have legs bearing on the faces of the leaves ofhinges 23 toresiliently urge the plate 21 to swing outwardly and bias the door 19 toits fully open position.

A pair of opposite parallel longitudinal track defining channel members27 are secured to the confronting faces of side walls 14 and 16proximate bottom wall 13 and longitudinally slideably support a plate 28for carrying a food bowl or other receptacle 29 the forward edge ofslide plate 28 being curved. A bracket 30 havinga horizontal ear ismedially mounted on the lower inside face of the door 19 and anelongated link 32 has one end pivoted to the bracket ear and its otherend pivoted to the rear medial underface of slide plate 28, so that withthe opening of door 19 slide plate 28 is withdrawn by link 32 to aforwardly projecting position and with the closing of door 19, the link32 retracts slide plate 28 completely within the cabinet 11.

A horizontal partition 33 is located in cabinet 11 intermediate top andbottom walls 12 and 13 and an upright mechanical spring wound alarmclock 34 of conventional construction is supported by partition 33 andis firmly embraced between partition 33 and top wall 12 at the frontmedial portion of partition 33. The rear face of'clock 34 confronts sidewall 16 and the clock 34 includes, in the known manner, a pair of shafts36 for winding the clock spring motor and for setting the time and forsetting the alarm time, the shafts 36 having coaxial extensions 37coupled thereto and projecting through apertures in the wall 16 topermit the external setting and winding of the clock. The clock 34 alsoincludes a spring wound alarm motor provided with a shaft 38 whichrotates in a first direction to wind the motor spring, and is rotated inan opposite second direction with the unwinding of the alarm motorspring which actuates and sounds the clock alarm at the preset time.

A door locking assembly 39 is located between clock 34 and side wall 16,and includes a tubular vertical post 40 mounted atop partition 33 andhaving an upper coaxial section 41 of reduced diameter. Resting on thehorizontal peripheral shoulder delineating the upper and lower sectionsof post 40 and rotatable in upper section 41 is a bevel gear 42 withupwardly directed teeth. A hollow shaft 43 coaxial with post 40 has abore of the diameter of and axially aligned with that in post 40andterminates at its bottom in a bevel gear 44 located above andconfronting bevel gear 42 and being rotatable with shaft 43. The shaft43 projects through top wall 12 and terminates at its top in ahorizontal first disc 46 having a circular hub 47 on its bottom faceresting on top wall 12. An upwardly directed pin 48 is eccentricallymounted on disc 46.

A latch member defining rod 49 having a rounded bottom tip slideablyengages the aligned bores in shaft 43 and post 40 and has affixed to thetop thereof a seeond disc 50 located above first disc 46 and havingformed at its top a coaxial knob 51 and at its periphery, an outwardlydirected finger 52. An upwardly projecting pin 53 is located on top wall12 in the path of finger 52.

An arcuately extending wedge shaped member 54 projects upwardly from theperipheral border of the top face of disc 46 and has an inclined topface 56 and an arcuate wedge shaped member or skirt wall 57 depends fromthe periphery of disc 50 and has an inclined underface 58 complementingwedge member face 56 so that when discs 46 and 50 are relatively rotatedto bring faces 56 and 58 into mating registry, the disc 50 and latchmember 49 are released to their depressed position, as shown in FIG. 2,and when the disc 46 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, relativeto the disc 50, the members are relatively shifted to raise the disc 50and latch member 49. A bevel gear 59 is affixed to alarm motor shaft 38and engages gears 42 and 44, and with the unwinding of the alarm motorthe gear 59 rotates the gear 44 to turn the disc 46 counterclockwise.The pin 53 limits the amount of rotation of disc 50 ao as to ensurerelative rotation between disc 50 and motor driven disc 46, and the pin48 and finger 52 provide a drive coupling between discs 46 and 50 duringthe manual clockwise rotation of knob 51 for the winding of the alarmmotor.

An arm 63 has one end pivoted to a bracket 64 mounted on the inside faceof door 19 and has a longitudinal slot 65 formed at its opposite end.The arm 63 extends below the partition 33 and a guide pin 66 mounted ona projection depending from partition 33 slideably engages the slot 66.A socket member 67 mounted atop the arm 63 between its ends has a well68 formed in its top face which is in axial alignment with the latch rod49 when the door 19 is in its closed position with the arm 63 retractedthereby.

A closed water tank 70 is mounted in the upper part of cabinet 11adjacent to side wall 14 and a freely moveable open topped circulartrough 71 is located externally of the cabinet, and is provided with adepending pedestal 72 for supporting it on the floor. A large verticaltubular member 73 is affixed to the inside face of trough 71 with itsbottom positioned between the top and bottom of the trough. A long,flexible feed tube 74 which is smaller in diameter than tube 73, has itsupper end communicating with the bottom of tank 70 by way of a suitablecoupling, and has its lower end communieating with the bottom of trough71, likewise through a suitable coupling, the tube 74 extending throughan aperture in side wall 14. A flexible venting tube 76 communicatesthrough a suitable coupling with the upper part of tank 70,'and itslower end is in hermetic engagement with tubular member 73.

A pair of vertically spaced elastomerie suction cups 77 are secured tothe outer face of side wall 16 for the separable attachment of pet playdevices.

In the operation and application of the device 10. tank 70 is firstfilled with water by raising the trough 71 above the level of tank 70and pouring water into trough 71 which flows through tube 74 into thetank. Water passes from the small connecting tube 74 down near the baseof the box and upwardly thence into the tank 70. This is accomplished bygravity. When the tank is filled, dripping will occur from the largetube 73 because of the overflow. The tank is hermetically sealed. Thus,when the trough is placed at its lower level. in the beginning waterwill come out both tubes into the bowl, but then because ofexternal airpressure, water will only flow through the small tube 74, while air willpass through the large tube 73 into the tank to replace the volumeformerly filled by water which has been vacated by the water drippingout. The tube 73 is positioned downwardly inside the water bowl, so thatas the water level reaches the mouth of the tube air will be furtherprevented from passing upwardly in the tube. Water will pass upwardlythrough the air tube to a certain level, but not all the way up and intothe tank only until a balance is reached. The opening of the tube 73 atits lower end is of a much wider diameter than the regular portion ofthe tube. When the dog drinks and lowers the water level, the volume ofwater in the air tube 73 returns to the bowl, exposing the lower openingand allowing external air pressure to enter the tube. Then air can passupwardly into the tube and force water to start entering into the bowlfrom the tank via tube 74. The procedure is repeated until a balance isreached again.

The reason for having an expanded diameter at the open portion of theair tube 73 is the following: By having a section of tubing of expandeddiameter, the weight of the water in the air tube is increasedsignificantly. Thus. when the dog drinks the weight is sufficient todrop rapidly back into the liquid bowl and allow the process to startagain. Ifwe did not have this, according to the inventor, and based uponhis experiments, the system becomes neutralized and the water stays upin the tube, retained in position by the air pressure and gravitybalance. the air pressure being greater than the force created by theweight ofthe water in the air tube. and the water will not come outofthe air tube.

The clock 34 is wound and the alarm set to the desired food release timeand the clock alarm motor is wound through gears 59 and 44, shaft 43 anddiscs 46 and 50 and pin 48 and finger 52 by turning knob 51 clockwiseuntil finger 52 reaches pin 53. With the door I9 open and plate 28extended, a food containing bowl 29 placed on the forward part of plate28 and the door I9 is manually closed to retract the plate 28 and bowl2) into the cabinet 11. The knob 51 is then turned counter-clockwiseuntil pin 53 is engaged by finger 52,

in which position the cam and follower defining members 54 and 57 areout of engagement permitting the latch rod 49 to drop into lockingengagement with socket well 68 and retain the door in closed position.

At the preset alarm time, the clock alarm is released to sound andattract the animal, and with the unwinding of the alarm motor the drivengear 59 rotates disc 46 by way of gear 44 to raise the disc 50 and latchmember rod 49 from well 68, thereby releasing the door which is swung toits open position withdrawing slide plate 28 and the food containingbowl 29. The amount of unwinding of the alarm motor and the sounding ofthe alarm is limited by the restricted rotation of disc 46 to less than360.

As shown in FIGS. 9 to I I, a collapsible mat or shelter 78 may beassociated with the cabinet II and includes a plastic web 79 divided bylongitudinally and transversely extending fold lines 80 into rows andlines of similarly shaped rectangular panels 8], in the illustratedembodiment four rows ofpanels with four panels to the row. The rear edgeof a rear corner panel is provided with a rearwardly projecting flapwhich is secured to the border ofthe underface of bottom wall 13.

In the collapsed condition of the web 79, it is folded,

accordion fashion. longitudinally and transversely, as

shown in FIG. 9 and brought into superimposition with side wall 14. AU-shaped resilient frame member 83 includes a top cross piecc 84 anddepending opposite end legs 86. the legs 86 tightly embracing thecollapsed web along side wall 14 and opposite side wall 16.

In employing the web 79 as a mat, the frame 83 is re moved to releasethe web 79 which is open along the fold lines to its desired size andconfiguration and permitted to rest upon the floor. On the other hand,if the web 79 is to be used asa shelter, it is unfolded to its fullextent and then folded along, transversc fold lines to form arectangulartunnel, as shown by broken line in FIG. 10, and the frame member-83 isinserted in the tunnel, extending longitudinally, to prcventthe collapseof the shelter.

A play device 87, which may be employed by way of example, with thedevice 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14 and includes a verticalcylindrical clawing block 88 having a planar rear face to which issecured a vertically extending flat coupling plate 89 having a smoothrear face. A vertical pin 90 projects upwardly from the block 88 andregisters with the dihedral between the faces of block 88 and plate 89.A resilient flexible tubular arm 9] formed of a hclically wound wire hasits inner end engaging the pin 90 and projects forwardly of block 88.Suspended from the free end of arm 91 by means of a chain 92 is anysuitable toy 85, such as a catnip stuffed figure, or the like.

In use, the device 87 is supported at the desired level by effecting asuction coupling between the suction cups 77 and the plate 89 in theknown manner. Other toys and playthings may be substituted for thedevice 87 and attached to the cabinet 11 in a similar manner.

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments ofthe present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations,omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spiritthereof.

I claim:

I. A timed animal feeding device comprising a food receptacle, a housingenclosing said food receptacle and having an access member including adoor defining a wall of said receptacle and supported for swinging abouta vertical edge thereof between an opened first position providingaccess to said food receptacle and a second closed position restrictingaccess to said food receptacle, means resiliently biasing said accessmember to said first closed position, a latch member movable betwcen alocked position releasably locking said door in its second closedposition and a release position releasing said door for movement to itsfirst opened position, a socket member supported in the side face ofsaid door and movable therewith and having a well in its top base, saidlatch member comprising a rod vertically movable to a locked positionengaging said well when said door is in its first closed position and toa raised position above said well, a clock supported by said housing andincluding a spring wound alarm motor having a winding shaft rotatable ina first direction to load the motor spring and an opposite seconddirection with the running of said motor to sound said alarm andadjustable means for releasing said alarm motor at a pre-set time, latchcontrol means responsive to the rotation of said motor shaft in saidfirst direction for permitting the movement of said'latch member to saidlocked position and responsive to the rotation of said shaft apredetermined amount in said second direction for advancing said latchmember to said release position, said latch control means raising andreleasing said rod of said socket member with the rotation of said alarmmotor shaft in said second and first directions respectively, said latchcontrol member including a hollow vertical shaft having a lower end gearcoupled to said alarm motor shaft and having a coaxial horizontal firstdisc affixed to the top thereof, said latch member rod slideablyregistering with said hollow shaft and having a coaxial horizontalsecond disc secured to the top thereof and disposed above said firstdisc, cam and cam follower surfaces located in the confronting faces ofsaid first and second discs whereby relative rotation thereof effectsthe raising of said second disc and latch rod means for limiting therotation of said second disc and means for limiting the rotation of saidfirst disc relative to said second disc.

2. The device of claim 1 including a closed water tank supported at theupper part of said housing, an open topped drinking fountain locatedexternally of said housing below the level of said tank, a first tubeproviding liquid communication between the lower parts of said fountainand tank, and a venting tube extending from the upper part of said tankand having a downwardly directed opening communicating with saidfountain above the lower part thereof.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said first tube is flexible.

4. The device of claim 2, the first tube having a smaller diameter thanthe second tube.

l =l= l

1. A timed animal feeding device comprising a food receptacle, a housingenclosing said food receptacle and having an access member including adoor defining a wall of said receptacle and supported for swinging abouta vertical edge thereof between an opened first position providingaccess to said food receptacle and a second closed position restrictingaccess to said food receptacle, means resiliently biasing said accessmember to said first closed position, a latch member movable between alocked position releasably locking said door in its second closedposition and a release position releasing said door for movement to itsfirst opened position, a socket member supported in the side face ofsaid door and movable therewith and having a well in its top base, saidlatch member comprising a rod vertically movable to a locked positionengaging said well when said door is in its first closed position and toa raised position above said well, a clock supported by said housing andincluding a spring wound alarm motor having a winding shaft rotatable ina first direction to load the motor spring and an opposite seconddirection with the running of said motor to sound said alarm andadjustable means for releasing said alarm motor at a pre-set time, latchcontrol means responsive to the rotation of said motor shaft in saidfirst direction for permitting the movement of said latch member to saidlocked position and responsive to the rotation of said shaft apredetermined amount in said second direction for advancing said latchmember to said release position, said latch control means raising andreleasing said rod of said socket member with the rotation of said alarmmotor shaft in said second and first directions respectively, said latchcontrol member including a hollow vertical shaft having a lower end gearcoupled to said alarm motor shaft and having a coaxial horizontal firstdisc affixed to the top thereof, said latch member rod slideablyregistering with said hollow shaft and having a coaxial horizontalsecond disc secured to the top thereof and disposed above said firstdisc, cam and cam follower surfaces located in the confronting faces ofsaid first and second discs whereby relative rotation thereof effectsthe raising of said second disc and latch rod means for limiting therotation of said second disc and means for limiting the rotation of saidfirst disc relative to said second disc.
 2. The device of claim 1including a closed water tank supported at the upper part of saidhousing, an open topped drinking fountain located externally of saidhousing below the level of said tank, a first tube providing liquidcommunication between the lower parts of said fountain and tank, and aventing tube extending from the upper part of said tank and having adownwardly directed opening communicating with said fountain above thelower part thereof.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said first tube isflexible.
 4. The device of claim 2, the first tube having a smallerdiameter than the second tube.